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Master of Social Work

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, Savannah State University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is an administrative track that prepares students to become architects for social change. Over the course of their degree, students learn public policy, and study crisis intervention in a rich educational tradition that is rooted in social justice and social change.

To accommodate a wide range of talented students and working professionals seeking an MSW degree, SSU offers two distinct degree paths: a clinical social work concentration and a social administration concentration.

According to the New Georgia Licensure rule {135-12-.02(2)}, individual seeking licensure or renewal must complete a "graduate level course, such as psychopathology, DSM or other course with similar content, by a regionally accredited university or an organized training program recognized and/or approved by the Board in mental disorders and diagnosing mental disorders consisting of a minimum of three semester hours or five quarter hours (forty-five clock hours) may satisfy this requirement."

Any of the following three courses offered by the Department of Social Work at Savannah State University meet the new licensure rule.

Completed admission applications are evaluated according to the following criteria:

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with liberal arts courses from the social sciences, behavioral sciences, natural sciences, biological sciences, and humanities

Grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission

Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for Advanced Standing

Minimum GRE score of 3.0 in Analytical Writing portion

Official transcript(s) direct from all colleges/universities attended

Graduate School Application with a 500-1,000 word "Directed Essay" indicating the applicant's reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies in social work at SSU

Three letters of recommendation (academic and/or professional persons)

Regular Full Time Admission

Regular admission requires students to satisfy the GRE Analytical Writing (3.0) and GPA (2.8) requirements. This is a two-year 60 credit hour program with students completing 15 credit hours per semester. The Full Time curriculum begins in the fall semester.

Part Time Admission

The Part-time program is aimed at those students whose work commitments prohibit them from participating in a two-year full-time program. Typically, part-time students complete their courses over a four year period. It is a 60 credit hour program which consists of three principal parts: 1) a foundation curriculum which provides the knowledge, values, and skills common to all social work practice; 2) a set of concentration courses in either clinical or social administration and 3) field practicum which are designed to enhance the achievement of competencies in the areas of foundation and concentration content. Part-time students begin in the Spring (January) of each year.

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in the liberal arts, human services professions (counseling, psychology, etc), social or behavioral sciences or social work.

A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) writing score of at least 3.0

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.

Evidence of a liberal arts background in one’s undergraduate studies. All prospective students are expected to have acquired a humanistic, liberal arts education as a function of successfully completing their baccalaureate programs. For purposes of admission, a liberal arts background is defined as having successfully completed a core of credits in the social, behavioral, natural, and biological, cultural sciences and humanities.

Advance Standing Admission

Only students who have earned the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE accredited program within the last five years are eligible for the Advanced Standing admission. Students must satisfy the GRE Analytical Writing (3.0) and the GPA (3.0) requirements. The Advanced Standing curriculum begins in May. Students admitted into the Advanced Standing program who fail to earn a grade of "B" in any course will be removed from Advanced Standing. The student may be given the option of continuing in the regular two-year MSW degree program. The student will not be allowed back in the Advanced Standing curriculum. Advanced Standing requires a total of 39 credit hours and is completed within 12 months.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who want to obtain the MSW degree, but do not fully satisfy the requirements for admission may be given consideration for provisional admission status. Provisional Admission may be granted to applicants whose GRE analytical writing score and/or GPA fall below the minimum required for admission. The student must earn a grade of "B" in each course during the first semester of enrollment in order to remain the MSW Program.

Non-Degree (Special) Admission

Non degree students can apply up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit taken at SSU to the MSW program provided they meet the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education. This category is temporary and applicants must complete an application for admission. Non-degree students must satisfy all prerequisites before enrolling in a course. Students admitted in non-degree status are not eligible for financial aid.

Students are permitted to pursue a Dual Concentration. The Dual Concentration allows students the option of taking three (3) additional core concentration courses (9 credit hours) from the Clinical concentration or the Social Administration concentration.

Orientation

A required orientation to the MSW Program is held at the beginning of the fall semester for Full Time students and the beginning of the summer semester for Part Time and Advanced Standing students during the registration period. All MSW students are required to attend orientation.

Field Practicum

Field practicum is an integral part of social work education. The experience offers an opportunity for students to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and social work practice skills in diverse human service settings under the instruction of approved agency based social workers. Field placements are typically during day hours and not evenings or weekends.

MSW students must complete 1000 clock hours of field practicum for a total of 18 semester credit hours. MSW I students complete a one semester foundation practicum at 20 hours a week for a total of 300 hours (6 credits) for the semester. In the advanced year, MSW II students complete two semesters of concentration practicum at 24 hours a week, 350 hours per semester for a total of 700 hours (6 credits per semester). Field practicum is taken concurrently with social work practice classes. In the advanced year, field learning experiences are focused on students' declared concentration (Clinical Practice or Social Administration Practice).

In addition to their field placement hours, MSW students are required to attend a 15 hour seminar course for each semester in field placement.